The National Agency for
Legal Aid (NALA) in collaboration with the University of The Gambia Law Faculty
Thursday held a public lecture on the legal framework for legal aid in The
Gambia, and on the work of NALA as a whole.
The lecture held at the UTG Faculty of Law, along the MID road, brought together law students and lecturers.
Since its inception, NALA has engaged in sensitization initiatives of stakeholder institutions on its mandate, as envisaged in the Legal Aid Act of 2008
In his remarks, the acting Dean of the Faculty of Law, Johannes Biaboo, said such public lectures help and give students the opportunity to interact with society, but also to come face to face with those in the legal system in the country.
He added that this would help students to learn a lot beyond the classroom level, and urged the students to take the opportunities of the series of lectures lined up for the academic year.
In his lecture, Malick Jallow,UNV Legal Officer (NALA –UNDP), also a lecturer at the UTG Faculty of Law, said such lectures help create awareness on the work of public institutions, and such could not be held in a better place than the university, in which they would have the chance to enhance their knowledge beyond the classroom.
He said the inception of NALA came in stages and was based on how to make justice available to all, adding that the dream could not be achieved alone, but the contribution of all is needed.
Although it is an independent organization, but its work is in line with the Ministry of Justice, he said, adding that justice should not be for the privileged only, but for all and sundry, as part of their mandate to make justice accessible to all.
He added that presently, NALA is providing legal aid to children in conflict with the law at the children’s court, and to anyone in need of legal advice.
He said with the help of UNDP and others, NALA was able to take its work out there to the people, as they were able to provide free legal aid lectures and interaction with over 1321 people in three regions, and it has become one of the most fruitful initiatives by NALA.
This, he said, they hope to do throughout the country, with support to enhance the initiative as their capacity is limited.
The lecture was followed by a question and answer session.
